The sawfishes (family Pristidae) are among the world’s most threatened marine fish. All five species of sawfish are endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Incidental capture in nets is the primary threat to sawfish. Sawfish rostra are easily entangled in fishing gear and fishers are unaware of how to properly release them. Demand for their meat and rostra creates incentive to kill captured sawfish.
The IUCN Shark Specialist Group has identified the Caribbean as a priority region for sawfish conservation because of its significant, yet under-protected, sawfish populations where the decline in sawfish can be reversed if conservation action is taken soon. In Cuba, the presence of sawfish has been documented in a 2011 study that interviewed 91 fishers and dive operators. Of those, 27% stated that they had seen sawfish in the past 10 years. Apart from this, no fisheries independent research has been conducted to date. Before any protective measures can be taken, it must be proven scientifically that they exist.
Another three sawfish were observed by fishers in 2018 at Cayo Levisa, Cayo Confites and Baracoa. While each of the three areas are located on Cuba’s northern coast, these sites are separated by about 400 miles, meaning more interviews must be conducted to pinpoint an ideal site to conduct tagging. A benefit of these interviews with isolated communities is that they allow for face-to-face outreach with community members to encourage sustainable fishing practices and report future sightings.
CariMar is working with the University of Havana, Shark Advocates International, Havenworth Coastal Conservation, Dalhousie University, and Florida State University to document and protect sawfish in Cuba and the Bahamas, while setting the stage for a future phase of conservation in other parts of the Caribbean where they have been seen. The project involves scientific research, outreach, and policy and has the following objectives:
The IUCN Shark Specialist Group has identified the Caribbean as a priority region for sawfish conservation because of its significant, yet under-protected, sawfish populations where the decline in sawfish can be reversed if conservation action is taken soon. In Cuba, the presence of sawfish has been documented in a 2011 study that interviewed 91 fishers and dive operators. Of those, 27% stated that they had seen sawfish in the past 10 years. Apart from this, no fisheries independent research has been conducted to date. Before any protective measures can be taken, it must be proven scientifically that they exist.
Another three sawfish were observed by fishers in 2018 at Cayo Levisa, Cayo Confites and Baracoa. While each of the three areas are located on Cuba’s northern coast, these sites are separated by about 400 miles, meaning more interviews must be conducted to pinpoint an ideal site to conduct tagging. A benefit of these interviews with isolated communities is that they allow for face-to-face outreach with community members to encourage sustainable fishing practices and report future sightings.
CariMar is working with the University of Havana, Shark Advocates International, Havenworth Coastal Conservation, Dalhousie University, and Florida State University to document and protect sawfish in Cuba and the Bahamas, while setting the stage for a future phase of conservation in other parts of the Caribbean where they have been seen. The project involves scientific research, outreach, and policy and has the following objectives:
- Study sawfish presence, movements, and range
- Raise awareness of sawfish threats and protections in isolated fishing communities
- Improve implementation of national and international legal protections for sawfish
Cover photo credit: NOAA